, 1887-04-21
1t cuts up Mad Capcrs in Several
Ohio Towns.
Many People Injured and Much
Property Destroyed.

III tAppeureu 10 Oe travei1ng fr IN the
west ia the shape of funnel shaped
mass. Tho cloud resembling in APP
pearance dense black smoke. The
cone was downward and could be
plainly traced over its track by the
destruction IL left. Houses were de-
molished, trees snapped Off like pipe
stems, horses and cattle Frustrated
and carried bodily hundreds OF yards
by the gale and the sky was darkened
with clouds OF flying debris. Tho
storm and its effects showed all the
Distinguishing characteristics Of the
western cyclone. 1t first struck two
new brick houses, belonging TO Col.
Paxton and Judge Cochran, west of
town, and q frame house belonging to
- man named Coleman. All three
we're completely demolished, and the
furniture and portions of the roof and
walls scattered along the track OF the
cyclone clean to the other end OF
town, y mile distant. A large mansion
ON the corner Of Marietta and Main
streets was cut off clean at the second
floor and the walls and roof scattered
In fragments. The First National
bank block and G. Thrall & Sons dry
goods store were almost swept from
their sites, only portion Of the lower
walls being left standing. The dwell
ings and business blocks OF j. H. Pat
terson, druggist; Geo. Jepson, grocer,
and James Patterson. dry goods, had
the upper walls and roof swept OFF and
the lower part of the houses badly
damaged by falling bricks and timbers.
The National hotel, Mrs. Evans large
brick residence and probably forty
other houses werc less seriously dam
agel. No casualties to persons are re
ported, the funnel shaped cloud nav
ing been seen approaching in time for
families to take refuge in
cellars. Benjamin Barksburt's
fine old brick mansion
south OF town was totally
demolished, likewise the United Pres
byterian church, large brick edifice.
The loss in st. Clairsville will reach
100000. Western Union wires and
poles are all down. Horses hitched to
trees in the streets were blown about
like chaff and vehicles demolished.
A scantling sailed through the air
for mile and cut as clean a hole in
two walls of brick house as
cannon ball would. Shingles were
driven through weather boarding like
arrows. James f. Anderson, of Bel
laire, had just hitched buggy in the
street when some one shouted the
warning TO him. He clutchod tele-
graph pole which snapped off just
above his head. Hon. 8. Darford was
sitting in his law Office when an entire
chimney crashed through the coiling
and floor, leaving him unframed. At
Barton's station, four miles north OF
here, u new brick house was levcled
to the ground At Pasco, five
miles west of this city, on
the National road, the brick
house OF A. Hinckle was demolished
and he badly hurt Large tracts OF
woods between here and st. Claires-
vile have not tree uninjured, while
most Of them are flat on the ground.
The town of Bridgeport, just across
the river, escaped, as did Wheeling,
but funeral was in the cemetery on
the hill and carriages were blown over
and carried against trees, tombstones
swapping off as they blew over them.
Martins Ferry, ON the opposite side
of the river, at the north end Of town
suffered even more severely than st.
Clairsville. Here a broad valley gave
direction to the destroying gale, which
licked up forests and farm houses and
scattered fences in its path down the
hollow, widening out ms it struck the
little city and Scattering destruction
everywhere. The gas works had
one brick building blown down. On
the hill the brick residence of j H.
Demon, editor Of the News, was so
badly used up that not one brick was
left upon another. i. w. Bailey's
fine concrete residence was also leveled
to the ground. Henry Killings eight
houses, barns and sheds were all de-
stroycd. In the town proper 70 to 100
houses were more or less damaged and
the loss will reach $4,000. At Wal
nut grove, Fins Park has but few of
the 800 trees standing. The city Gem
etery adjoining it was similarly unfor-
tunate. Jas Reilley's house was blown
down and Mrs. Reilly was pulled un-
conscious from the ruins and may die.
The storm struck the town p. m.
without warning and it is wonderful
that more injury to persons was not
done. Besides Mrs. Reilly the casual
ties reported are James Reilly,
her husband, saloon keeper,
both legs broken; Mrs. Wilhelm
collar bone broken; Mark Davis, |
Martins Ferry stave works, probably
atally injured; German lady, whose
lame could not be learned, danger
usly injured. When the storm struck
he river the water spouted up III Il
wall. about twenty feet
nd then fell back in froti,y, secthing